Title

Grantee

Award Year

2016

Grant Type

Early Career Research Award

Description

What are the labor market effects of using algorithms for hiring? How can digitization improve hiring outcomes for employers and job candidates? What shortcomings in human judgment do such algorithms correct? I evaluate these questions using a series of field- and natural- experiments showing productivity gains from IT adoption in screening of job applicants. Through a field experiment, I show that algorithmic hiring technology decrease both Type I and Type II errors compared to the incumbent human screening process, and improves match quality both as perceived by the firm and the applicants. The mechanism of this gain appears to be the reduction of behavioral weaknesses and shortcomings in human judgements and decision making processes.